Framed display

ABSTRACT

A FRAMED PRODUCT DISPLAY IN WHICH THE PRODUCT BEING DISPLAYED IS MOUNTED ON A YIELDING OR RESILIENT BODY WHICH IS CONFINED BETWEEN A TRANSPARENT FRONT PANEL AND A RIGID REAR PANEL WITHIN A FRAME FORMED OF CHANNEL-TYPE BORDERING FRAME MEMBERS, THE URGENCY OF THE YIELDING OR RESILIENT BODY BEING EFFECTIVE TO BOTH PRESS THE PRODUCT AGAINST THE TRANSPARENT FRONT PANEL AND ALSO HOLD THE INDIVIDUAL PARTS OF THE ASSEMBLY IN PLACE WITHIN THE BORDERING FRAME MEMBERS.

. INVENTOR HARRIETT SALTZMAN By ATTORNEY nited States Patent 3,611,604 FRAMED DISPLAY Harriett Saltzman, Aracon Electronics, Inc., 1437 2nd Ave., New York, NY. 10021 Filed Oct. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 868,048 Int. Cl. G091 1/12 US. Cl. 40-152 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A framed product display in which the product being displayed is mounted on a yielding or resilient body which is confined between a transparent front panel and a rigid rear panel within a frame formed of channel-type bordering frame members, the urgency of the yielding or resilient body being effective to both press the product against the transparent front panel and also hold the individual parts of the assembly in place within the bordering frame members.

The present invention relates to product displays, and more particularly to an easily assembled construction for framing a product being displayed and, as a consequence, providing the resulting display with a desirable, attractive appearance.

There is a need for an easily assembled construction for displaying products which, although generally flat, have some depth or height. Examples of such products are coins, medals and like items. To make a display of these products, such as, for example, a coin collection, it is presently necessary to attach the coins, adhesively or in some convenient manner, to a surface of a display board or panel in a frame behind a glass panel. The resulting display is not particularly noteworthy in appearance and, in any event, requires familiarity with framing techniques and procedures.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved framed product display overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to provide a product display which, with little effort and dexterity, is readily mounted in a frame and has an attractive, finished appearance. A framed display demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention includes a yielding or resilient body which, in practice, effectively holds, without adhesive or the like, the product being displayed against a glass panel. The yielding body also supplies the holding force for retaining itself and the product within a peripheral frame which is easily assembled about the prodnot.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two typical product display embodiments of the present invention, namely a first embodiment having a display area subdivided into three parts, and a second embodiment having only a single display area;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, on a greatly enlarged scale, of the various parts which combine to provide the framed display according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale and in section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, illustrating further structural features of the framed display.

Reference is now made to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, wherein a multi-display embodiment 3,611,604 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 ice and a single display embodiment 12 of a framed display according to the present invention are illustrated. The parts which make up the framed displays 10 and 12 are identical and thus, for brevitys sake, description will be restricted to the multi-display embodiment 10. This display, as will be described in greater detail herein, is particularly advantageous for displaying objects, such as coins, metals and the like and includes, to this end, a rigid peripheral frame 14 which bounds either one or more display compartments 16, 18 and 20. The displayed products are held in a favorable display position within each of these compartments. Specifically, frame 14 is readily assembled into a rigid construction providing the display compartments 16, 18 and 20, it being one of the important objects of the present invention that the assembly procedure be simple and readily easy to achieve without any particular skill or dexterity being required by the user. The construction of the frame display 10 is perhaps best understood from a consideration of the FIG. 2 in which there is an exploded view of the various components which are utilized for its construction. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, these components include a product mounting assembly, generally designated 22, which occupies an operative display position defined within the peripheral frame 14. Specifically, assembly 22 is comprised, in order of assembly, of a transparent front panel 24 which may be glass or plastic. Next, is the product being displayed which may be a single object or several objects such as the coins 26 and 28 which are advantageously displayed on a felt or similar soft material pad 30. Functioning as a resilient backing for the framed display is a yieldable body 32, of rectangular shape and size equal to that of the display compartment in which it is to be contained which, in the illustrated embodiment, is compartment 16. Resilient or yielding body 32 may be fabricated of an appropriate elastomeric material or a foam plastic or the like which is capable of being compressed from a large initial volume into a smaller volume and which, as a result of this compression, exerts an opposite resisting outward force or urgency to return to its initial larger volume. It is this outward force or urgency of the body 32 which is effectively used to press the display products 26 and 28 into display contact against the inner surface of the transparent panel 24 and which maintains these products in this advantageous display position. Completing the assembly 22 is a rigid rear panel 34 which may be a fluted cardboard, a decorative opaque plastic panel or similar material. Although not shown in FIG. 2, rear panel 34 can also be transparent, like the front panel 24, so that additional products, also displayed against a felt pad can be arranged in display position adjacent the undersurface of the body 32 and seen through the rear opening of the frame 14.

In addition to the assembly 22, the framed display 10 also includes the already noted peripheral frame 14. Frame 14, in turn, includes identically constructed inner frame members, individually and collectively designated 36. Structurewise, each frame member 36 is substantially U-shaped in cross section and has a central wall 38, which actually bounds each of the previously noted display compartments and depending marginal wall portions 40 and 42 extending laterally of the central wall and cooperating with it to bound an opening 44. In the assembled condition of the frame 14, each opening 44 is in facing relation to the display compartment which is bounded by the frame members 36. Additionally, each frame member 36 has, at opposite ends, cooperating interfitting connecting means. Thus, at one end, each frame member 36 has end sections of each of its lateral walls 40 and 42 removed and the end length segment 48 of the central wall 38 turned or bent inward to form a hooklike configuration as illustrated. At its other end, each member 36 hasan end. segment 50 of its central wall 38 slightly recessed to form opposite notches 52 which, in

in FIG. 3, the products can be displayedfrom one vvside practice's-are"adapted torecei'vein an interfitti'ng'rela tion the hook segment 48. In this manner, four frame members 36 are readily interlocked end to end into a generallyrigid rectangular frame in which each frame member opening 44 is in facing inward relationto' the display compartment formed by the interconnected frame rhcmbers' sd" j The recommended procedure for assembling the frame 14 is to'first achieve interlocking relation of a pair of adjacent frame -rne'mbers'36 so that a corner of the inner frame whichbounds the display compartment is constructed. "Next, the user then merely compresses the aiss'embly'i22'to a height which is less than the distance befeen the -late'rally extending depending Walls 40 and 42 and then inserts a corner 'of the assembly 22 within the completed corner provided by the interconnected frame members 38. That is, the edges of the assembly 22 whichlfor'm a corner of this'as'sembly ar'e projected into the-openings 44 of the two frame members 36 which areoined together ina corner construction. Once this hieved, the user merely releases the assembly 22 w th the result that the urgency exerted by the yielding may- 32 forces "the peripheral edges of the "rigid rear panel 34 and'also lofthe glass front-panel '24 into holdrn' engagement against each of the depending walls 40 and'*42'. 'The' inner frame'cons'truction formed by the rranieimembers '36 is then' completed about the two remaining' 'sides of the assembly'22, 'the'user in doing so merely connecting together the cooperating connecting structures48 and 52 of the frame members 36.

j Qnce the inner frame portion or construction of frame 14 is completed, frame 14 is, in turn, completed by an outerassembly of frame members, herein individually end collectively designated54. Each outer frame member 54, like each inner frame member 36, is substantially U-sha'ped in cross section and -is formed with a comparatively Wide central wall 56 and with laterally extending walls 58 and 60. Frame members 54 are preferably fabricated from an elongated extrusion of alumi; num, or'similar material, being cut to size from the elongated extrusion. The outer or visible surface of each frame 'member 54 preferably has decorative markings thereono'r is otherwise finished so as to contribute tova favorable appearance in the framed display .In practice, each frame member 54 is, mounted about a cooperating inner frame member 36 and, as best shown in FIG; 1; provides "a flush construction with a neat appearheen eachcorner 62 of the framed display 10. Specifi cally, the outer frame members '54 effectively mask the interlocking structure 48 and 52 of the innerjframe members 36. I f I 1. Additionally, the outer frame members 54 are useful in joining togetherseveral inner frame constructions, su'clijas those which provide the display compartments 16;;18 and 20. That is, after completion of three, separate display units 16, 18 and 20, each complete inand of themselves with appropriate products in'display position behind the front or viewing panel of each, a composite display 10 is constructed using, as clearlyillustrated iri- FIG. 1, comparatively long 'outer frame members 64 and 66 to hold the three displays'in side by side relation. The usual length frame members-'54 are used for the' outer, short dimension edges of the composite -displayi 10, 'and also for the abutting, internal edges of "the "three displays '16, 18 and 20. All of the frames, both of the long'and short lengths 64, 66 and 54, respectively, are maintained in place by being force fit about the interconnected inner frame members 38.

From the foregoing description, it shouldbe readily appreci ted that there'has been describeda versatile, easily assembled arrangement of parts which effectively cooperate with each other to'form a 'framed display for 'a 'great variety of products. Moreover, as best illustrated of the display compartment as illustrated in connection with display'comp'artment 20 or, as illustrated in connec tion with the middle display compartment 18, suitable products 68 can be displayed from one side of the compartment while other products 70, relate or otherwise, can be displayed through a rear glass viewing panel 72 from the opposite side of the display compartment.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without; a corresponding use of other features. An example of a modification from the disclosed embodiments, but one which nevertheless is intended to be within the contemplated scope of the ,inventionfis a framedjdis 'play wherein theresilient body 32 is. dispensed withand the function thereof achieved by ,the pad 30. That is, pad 30 would have the required force-applying, characteristic to hold the displayed products in display position against Ithe viewing panel24 and also to contribute tocompleting engagement. of the marginal edges of the viewing panel 24- against the frame wall. 40, This modified 'display' would, for example, beaptlyembodied in a table in which the table body or support would occupy the. posi; tion of the resilient body 32, the just noted resilient pad, similar to pad 30, would 'be supported thereon, and an appropriate display article, which could. evenbe aaflat photograph, would be displayed undera viewing panel 24 on top of the pad. The pad resiliency would provide the friction fit of theframe members 38 about the table side edges.

Wh f s l :v r 1 z 1. A framed displayv comprisingpluralframe members operatively interconnected end to end so asto bound a display compartment of a prescribed'size, I each frame member having acentral wall in facing relation to said display compartment "and opposite depending marginal walls extending along the mar ginal areas of the opposite frontand rear planes of I said 'displaycompartment, I I I display-mounting means including a partially corn;

' pressed resilient body of substantially theprescribed 7 size of said display compartment containedgwithin said frame members between said depending marginal walls thereof, and I V J I at least one viewing panel mounted in said front plane of said display compartment in an interposed, posi: tion between said partially compressed resilient body andsaid frame depending marginal walls, j whereby the urgency of said partially compressed re- I silient body 'maintains said viewing panel in place withinsaid frame and also the subject matter being I displayed on said display-mounting means in display position against saidviewing panel, and 'Ij decorative outer frame members adapted to betmounted about said operatively interconnected frame members n a t ai i r n t onst uc thereof. I I 2. A framed display as defined in claim 1 I, V including a rear panel effective to confine said resilient I body within' said display compartment.

3. A framed display as defined in claim 1 including a second viewing panel mounted said rear plane of said display compartment such that subject matter is' adapted tobedisplayed from both sides of i d ay n ar m 1,. '4. A frameddisplay'as defined in claim" 1 I including a'plurality'of said framed displays arranged in sideeby-side relation, and f aborder of a plurality of saidouterframe members substantiallyequal in length to.the'pen'metr'al extent of said side-by-side arrangement of said plurality of framed displays, a Q i 'said outerframe members frictionally engaging the outer perimeter of said operatively"interconnected frame members of said side-by-side arrangement of said plurality of said f-ramed displays to retain the same in their side-by-side arrangement.

5. A framed display as defined in claim 4 said outer frame members including opposite depending marginal walls at least substantially obscuring the respective walls of said operatively interconnected frame members to effect a decorative appearance for said display.

6.;'A framed display comprising a display arrangement having a variable thickness,

plural frame members having cooperating connecting means at opposite ends operatively interconnected end to end so as to form a border for said display arrangement,

each said frame member having a central wall and opposite end walls depending therefrom spaced from each other a prescribed extent less than the maximum attainable thickness of said display arrangement,

whereby the marginal edges of said display arrangement are adapted to have an engaging fit 'between said depending walls of said bordering frame members, and

decorative outer frame members substantially coextensive with said operatively interconnected frame members and adapted to be mounted about said operatively interconnected frame members so as to mask said interconnecting construction thereof.

7. A framed display as defined in claim 6 wherein said display arrangement includes a cornpressible body which provides said variable thickness to said display arrangement.

8. A framed display as defined in claim 6 including at least two framed displays arranged in sideby-side relation, and

a border of at least two said outer frame members,

each substantially equal in length to the large dimension of the perimetral extent of said side-by-sid'e arrangement of said plurality of framed displays,

said outer frame members frictionally engaging the outer perimeter of said side'by-side arrangement of said plurality of said frame displays to retain these displays in their sideby-side arrangement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 884,083 4/ 1908 Faucette 40-152 100,962 3/ 1870 Adams 40-152 2,276,735 3/ 1942 Miller 40-158 B 2,590,744 3/ 1952 Woodbury 40 -156 2,777,232 1/ 1957 Kulicke et al 40l55 3,430,829 3/ 1969 Wilson et a1 40-15 ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner 

